Google And Levi Combine Fashion And Tech With Connected Jacket

Google and Levi Strauss have unveiled a smart jacket which allows users to wirelessly access their smartphone.

The Levi’s Commuter Trucker jacket, designed with Google Advanced Technology and Projects’ (ATAP) Project Jacquard technology woven in, was announced at the Google I/O developer conference.

Via a blog post, Levi states that the jacket is the product of a year-long effort between its Innovation team and Google’s ATAP group.

“With a simple touch of a jacket sleeve, cyclists can wirelessly access their phone and favourite mobile apps to adjust music volume, silence a phone call or get an estimated ETA on their destinations,” Levi states.

The Jacquard tech allows users to perform simple gestures, such as tapping or swiping on a sleeve to activate functionality, while, the same as any normal jacket, the Commuter Trucker jacket can be washed.

“Anyone on a bike knows that navigating your screen while navigating busy city streets isn’t easy – or a particularly good idea,” Paul Dillinger, Levi head of global product innovation, commented.

“This jacket helps to resolve that real-world challenge by becoming the co-pilot for your life, on and off your bike.”

Levi states that the jacket is expected to be available beginning spring (which begins in the US in March) next year.